DELL Latitude 7480 Not even showing sim at all

To fix a non-working SIM card slot on a Dell Latitude 7480, the most common issue is that the SIM slot alone does not provide cellular connectivity—actual WWAN (mobile broadband) hardware must be present, and several troubleshooting and repair steps are possible depending on the root cause.

Check SIM Card and Slot Condition

• Remove the SIM card and carefully clean both the card and the slot with a lint-free cloth; check for any physical damage on the SIM card or slot contacts.

• Make sure the SIM card is correctly oriented and fully inserted into the slot. Dell Latitude SIM slots typically use a mini-SIM (not micro or nano).

• Test the SIM card in another device to confirm it functions correctly, ruling out service provider or card issues.

Verify WWAN Hardware Presence

• The SIM slot by itself does not enable mobile connectivity; the laptop must also have a compatible WWAN card installed.

• If the system did not ship with WWAN, internal antenna wiring is likely absent—making retrofitting difficult and expensive. Without a WWAN card and antennas, the SIM slot simply won't work.

• To check for a WWAN card: look in Device Manager for a cellular/mobile broadband device; physically inspect the internals for a WWAN card near the mainboard.

• If adding WWAN, ensure the card is compatible with local cellular networks, and that antenna leads are present.

Install or Update Drivers and Firmware

• If the WWAN card is present, visit Dell's support site and download/install the latest WWAN/card drivers and any relevant firmware updates for your Latitude 7480.

• Check in BIOS that the WWAN hardware is enabled.

SIM Tray and Hardware Mechanicals

• If the tray is physically damaged, replacement SIM trays are available for the Latitude 7480.

• To remove/re-insert or replace the SIM tray: shut down, use a SIM eject tool/paperclip in the tray’s eject hole, remove the tray, reseat or replace, and reinsert tray.

Alternative Connectivity

• If internal WWAN upgrade is impractical due to missing antennas or shop difficulty, external USB WWAN dongles are a cost-effective alternative.